Immigration Canada

Ratna Omidvar. Illustration by Antony Hare.

This45: Doug Saunders on Maytree Foundation president Ratna Omidvar

“This journey of learning how to become a Canadian has been one of the most exciting and one of the most frustrating journeys in my life,” says Ratna Omidvar. Born in India, Omidvar earned her bachelor of arts before going on scholarship to Germany, where she met her Iranian husband. The two moved to Tehran… More »

Abdelkader Belaouni hasn't left the grounds of St. Gabriel's Church in Montreal in more than three years. Illustration by Todd Julie.

Gimme Shelter: refugees who found sanctuary in Canadian churches

Three Canadian church congregations stood up to Immigration Canada and the police to save the lives of refugees in peril. Some say they should butt out. In 1990, Felicia Abimbola Akinwalere (“Ola” to her friends) arrived in Toronto from Nigeria on a temporary visa to visit family. During that vacation, her husband took part in… More »